Prosaism

Prosaism refers to a quality of writing or expression that is characterized by a lack of poetic beauty, imagination, or elevation. It emphasizes plainness, directness, and a down-to-earth approach, often prioritizing clarity and practicality over artistic flourish. It is the adherence to ordinary language, focusing on the straightforward and pragmatic rather than employing elaborate figures of speech, imagery, or emotional depth. The essence lies in the avoidance of overly ornamental or stylized language; it's a style of writing that could lack vibrancy, or impact that would usually draw the readers eye to the page.

Prosaism meaning with examples

• The author's descriptive passages were often marked by prosaism, simply detailing the events without injecting any emotional resonance or evocative language, causing the readers imagination to be left wanting. The narrative, though informative, lacked the imaginative spark that would truly engage the audience, with no hidden themes. The lack of rich description resulted in a less compelling read.
• Compared to the romantic poetry he'd written in his youth, his later prose writings showed a distinct prosaism, trading lush metaphors for a more functional, business-like tone. He favored brevity and concision over lyrical phrasing, focusing on conveying information directly. This shift reflected his pragmatic approach in his later years.
• In his analysis, he found that the textbook, while accurate, suffered from a severe case of prosaism, making the complex topics difficult to understand. The presentation used lacked imagery or engaging storytelling, resulting in students losing interest. The flat, literal language failed to capture the imagination or offer context.
• Despite the technical precision of the report, many reviewers cited the prose's reliance on prosaism as a detriment to its impact. The lack of stylistic variation rendered the document dry and difficult to sustain the interest in, failing to give value. The report was more a list of facts, rather than a compelling argument.